The government has received almost 70 applications for a €3.6 million scheme to help the construction industry can invest in more sustainable and clean energy machinery.

Details about the uptake for the scheme, which was launched in 2020, were given on Thursday by Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli.

Through this scheme, successful applicants were able to invest in new sustainable machinery which produces less emissions, such as heavy-duty trucks, forklifts and excavators, amongst others.

This more modern and less polluting machinery will lead to a reduction of about 51% in emissions, compared to the old machinery that these businesses had, the ministry said. Older machinery produced about 7,000 tonnes of CO2, while following this change, emissions will drop to 3,400 tonnes of CO2.

“The priority of this government is to reduce emissions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This is also in line with our commitment to the European Green Deal”, explained Minister Dalli.

“Together with Malta Enterprise, government ahead to continue offering schemes and assistance to various businesses and sectors, so they too can make this sustainable and digital change.”

Chief Executive of Malta Enterprise Kurt Farrugia said that: “This is one of the various schemes offered by Malta Enterprise which assist businesses to be more sustainable. The construction industry is eager to make this sustainable change. Therefore, such interest, encourages us more to come up with other schemes for different sectors”.

Farrugia also announced that recently, Malta Enterprise disbursed €575,000 in a one-time grant for businesses that remained closed after the 10th of May due to the legal notice by the health authorities, in order to control the spread of COVID-19.